Missions in Voxie

Self-care, kindness and mantras: small things to do today.

• Animal walk: cross the room like a penguin, then a crab, then a frog.
• Ask a grown-up who loves you: "What's your favourite day we've had together?"
• Ask someone at home about their day and actually listen. Then ask a second question.
• Ask someone at home: "Hug or high five?" Give them the one they pick.
• At bedtime, tell a grown-up the best bit of your day and the funniest bit.
• Before something tricky today, say this in your head three times: "I can do hard things."
• Box breathing: breathe in for 4, hold for 4, out for 4, hold for 4. Do four boxes.
• Build a tiny den with cushions or a blanket. Sit inside and have a rest.
• Build something out of whatever's around: blocks, cardboard, pegs, boxes. A tower, a car, a castle, anything.
• Check with a grown-up, then go outside and find one cool thing: a weird leaf, a snail, a cloud shaped like something.
• Colour hunt! Find something red, something blue, something yellow and something green.
• Did something go wrong today? Say "Oops, that's okay" and give yourself a big hug.
• Do one tricky thing by yourself: zip your coat, put your shoes on or pour your own water. Say "I can try!" first in a superhero voice.
• Draw someone you love and give them the picture.
• Draw your favourite place in the whole world. It doesn't have to be good. It just has to be yours.
• Drink a glass of water slowly, like it's a magic potion. What power do you get?
• Give out three high fives today. Family, friends, a teacher, or the dog's paw all count.
• Give your teddy a high five and tell it one thing you're looking forward to.
• Give yourself a real pat on the back for something you did today.
• Hold your teddy and say: "I am a good friend." Then make teddy say it back to you.
• Let someone go first today: in the queue, on the swing, picking the film.
• Lie down and do absolutely nothing for two whole minutes. Just breathe and look at the ceiling or the clouds.
• Look after something living: water a plant or fill a pet's water bowl. Ask first if it's not yours.
• Make someone laugh: tell a joke, pull a silly face, or do your best impression of a chicken.
• Next time something goes wrong, say in your head: "Respawn." Then have another go, like coming back in a game.
• Ninja noticing: find 5 things you can see, 4 you can hear and 3 you can touch.
• Pick one thing you're glad you have: your bed, your pens, your football. Tell it thanks. Yes, out loud.
• Pretend your tummy is a balloon. Breathe in to blow it up. Breathe out slowly. Do five.
• Put on one song you love and dance for the whole thing. Any moves allowed. Bad moves especially.
• Say thank you to whoever made your tea today. Tell them your favourite bit.
• Slow stretch: reach right up to the ceiling, then flop down and dangle like a floppy rag doll. Do it three times.
• Spend 10 minutes doing something just because you love it. No reason needed.
• Stand like a superhero for 30 seconds: hands on hips, chin up, feet wide. Then say: "I'm ready."
• Statue challenge: freeze like a statue while someone counts to 20. No wobbling, no giggling.
• Think of three good things from today. Tiny counts: a funny joke, a warm sock, a good biscuit. Say them or write them down.
• Tidy one small space: your bag, a drawer or your desk. Just one. Future you says thanks.
• Wave to yourself in the mirror and say: "Hello, brilliant!"
• Write "Done is better than perfect" on a scrap of paper. Stick it somewhere you'll see it tomorrow.
• Ask a grown-up to help you call or video call a grandparent or older relative. Tell them one thing about your week.
• Ask a grown-up what they were like when they were your age. Then ask one more question about it.
• Ask a grown-up: "Can I help?" Then do the job they give you.
• Ask someone for help with something you've been stuck on. Homework, a game level, a stubborn knot.
• Ask someone to teach you something they're good at: a card trick, a word in another language, a drawing trick.
• Ask your brother, sister or a friend to pick a game. Play it their way. No changing the rules.
• Be someone's cheer squad: while they're trying something tricky (a game, a puzzle, a match), cheer them on till they finish.
• Catch yourself thinking "I can't do this" today. Add one word on the end: "...yet."
• Give someone a compliment that isn't about how they look. Like "You're really good at explaining stuff."
• Look in the mirror and give yourself a pep talk like a football coach at half-time: "You've got this. Let's go."
• Make up a short song about your day. Silly words are encouraged. Rhyming is optional.
• Say three nice things about yourself that aren't about how you look. "I'm funny" counts.
• Share something today: a toy, a turn, or a crayon.
• Spot a job that needs doing and do it before anyone asks. Laying the table, tidying shoes, feeding the pet.
• Tell a friend one thing you like about being friends with them.
• Tell someone one thing you did today that you're proud of. Bragging rights: officially allowed.
• Tell someone you love that you love them. Out loud, a hug, a note: your choice.
• Thank someone properly: say what they did and why it helped. "Thanks for helping with my reading, I was really stuck."
• Think of a mistake that's still bugging you. Say in your head: "Yep, that happened. Moving on." Then shake it out of your hands.
• Try something you've never done before: write with your other hand, learn a card game, draw with your eyes shut.
• Write or draw a tiny thank-you note for someone and leave it where they'll find it. Bonus points for sneakiness.
• At break, ask someone who's on their own if they want to join in.

Real situations with friends and family. In the game they pick an answer and find out why it works.

• A big kid says "Keep this secret. Don't tell your mum." It makes you feel worried. What do you do?
• Aisha is new and uses a wheelchair. Everyone's going off to play. What do you do?
• At the park, a grown-up you don't know offers you sweets. What do you do?
• At the park, Kai has been on the swing for ages. You really want a go. What do you do?
• Auntie wants a big kiss goodbye. You don't feel like it today. What can you do?
• Dad says "Don't tell Mum about her birthday cake. It's a surprise!" What do you do?
• Everyone's playing tag. Amara is standing on her own, watching. What do you do?
• Finn keeps standing really close to you in the line. You feel squashed. What do you do?
• Grandma gives you socks for your birthday. You wanted a toy. What do you do?
• Harrison comes to school in new glasses. Someone shouts "Four eyes!" What do you do?
• Isla asks to play football. Jayden says "Girls can't play football." What do you do?
• Leo falls over and cries. Another kid says, "Boys don't cry!" What do you do?
• Mia wants to be leader of the game. Someone says, "Girls can't be the boss." What do you do?
• Mum is carrying lots of heavy shopping bags in. You're watching telly. What do you do?
• Ollie gets a sum wrong out loud. Some kids laugh. What do you do?
• Oscar is playing with a dolls' house. Someone says, "That's for girls!" What do you do?
• Priya is sitting on the bench crying at break. What do you do?
• Ruby has no red crayon. You have two. What do you do?
• Someone you don't know says "Come and see my puppy!" What do you do?
• You feel worried about something at bedtime and can't sleep. What do you do?
• You knock over Theo's tower by accident. He's upset. What do you do?
• You lose a board game to Dad. You feel really cross. What do you do?
• You're chasing Leo. He shouts "Stop, I don't want to play!" What do you do?
• You're in a big shop and you can't see your grown-up. What do you do?
• You're playing ball inside and break Mum's mug. Nobody saw. What do you do?
• You're playing cards with Grandad. He's holding them so you can see them all. What do you do?
• Your big cousin is tickling you. You don't like it any more. What do you do?
• Your brother knocks down your block tower. You're so angry you want to hit him. What do you do?
• Yusuf talks a bit differently. Some kids copy his voice. What do you do?
• Zara has a shiny new pencil case. You want to look inside. What do you do?

Surprising facts, checked against reputable sources.

• Can penguins fly?
• How many arms does an octopus have?
• How many corners does a square have?
• How many seasons are in a year?
• How many sides does a triangle have?
• In which season do lots of leaves fall off trees?
• Mix blue and yellow paint. What colour do you get?
• Mix red and yellow paint. What colour do you get?
• What do plants need to grow?
• What does a caterpillar turn into?
• What does a tadpole grow into?
• What happens to your baby teeth?
• What is a baby dog called?
• What is snow made of?
• Where do potatoes grow?
• Where does a baby kangaroo live?
• Where does rain fall from?
• Which animal gives us wool for jumpers?
• Which farm animal gives us milk?
• Which farm animal lays the eggs we eat?
• Which minibeast makes honey?
• Which part of your body do you smell with?
• Which pet often purrs when it's happy?
• How many colours do we usually say are in a rainbow?
• How many legs does a spider have?
• How many legs does an ant have?
• How were baby dinosaurs born?
• Most starfish have how many arms?
• Whales breathe air. Where is their breathing hole?
• What did T. rex eat?
• What do fish use to breathe underwater?
• What do your lungs help you do?
• What does your heart do?
• How many horns did Triceratops have?
• Which dinosaur had big plates along its back?

Logic, number and word puzzles.

• 10 ducks are on a pond. 3 fly away. How many are left?
• 10, 9, 8, 7... what comes next?
• Ava has 3 apples. Kai gives her 4 more. How many now?
• Leo is 6. How many candles on his cake next birthday?
• Odd one out: apple, banana, carrot?
• Odd one out: fish, crab, cow? Think about where they live.
• Odd one out: robin, owl, cat?
• Red, blue, red, blue, red... what comes next?
• What day comes after Monday?
• What has keys but can't open locks?
• What is the opposite of day?
• What is the opposite of hot?
• What is the opposite of up?
• Which word rhymes with cat?
• Which word rhymes with moon?
• Which word rhymes with tree?
• 2, 4, 6, 8... what comes next?
• 5 children are on a bus. 6 more get on. How many now?
• 5, 10, 15... what comes next?
• A hen has 2 legs. A cat has 4. How many legs together?
• Aisha has a 5p coin and another 5p coin. How much money?
• Amara draws a ladybird with 2 spots on each wing. 2 wings. How many spots?
• Circle, square, triangle, circle, square... what comes next?
• How many legs do 2 dogs have altogether?
• Isla doesn't like apples or pears. Apple, pear or banana: which does she pick?
• Odd one out: square, triangle, circle?
• Star, moon, moon, star, moon, moon, star... what comes next?
• Theo has 3 pairs of socks. How many socks is that?
• What has a face and two hands but no arms?
• What has to be broken before you can use it?
• Finn is taller than Priya. Priya is taller than Yusuf. Who is shortest?
• Mateo and Nia share 12 cupcakes equally. How many each?
• What gets wetter the more it dries?
• What goes up and down but never moves?
• What is full of holes but still holds water?
• Zara finished before Ollie. Ollie finished before Ruby. Who won?

Self-care, kindness and mantras: small things to do today.

• Ask someone at home about their day and actually listen. Then ask a second question.
• Before something tricky today, say this in your head three times: "I can do hard things."
• Box breathing: breathe in for 4, hold for 4, out for 4, hold for 4. Do four boxes.
• Build something out of whatever's around: blocks, cardboard, pegs, boxes. A tower, a car, a castle, anything.
• Check with a grown-up, then go outside and find one cool thing: a weird leaf, a snail, a cloud shaped like something.
• Draw your favourite place in the whole world. It doesn't have to be good. It just has to be yours.
• Drink a glass of water slowly, like it's a magic potion. What power do you get?
• Give out three high fives today. Family, friends, a teacher, or the dog's paw all count.
• Let someone go first today: in the queue, on the swing, picking the film.
• Lie down and do absolutely nothing for two whole minutes. Just breathe and look at the ceiling or the clouds.
• Make someone laugh: tell a joke, pull a silly face, or do your best impression of a chicken.
• Next time something goes wrong, say in your head: "Respawn." Then have another go, like coming back in a game.
• Ninja noticing: find 5 things you can see, 4 you can hear and 3 you can touch.
• Pick one thing you're glad you have: your bed, your pens, your football. Tell it thanks. Yes, out loud.
• Put on one song you love and dance for the whole thing. Any moves allowed. Bad moves especially.
• Slow stretch: reach right up to the ceiling, then flop down and dangle like a floppy rag doll. Do it three times.
• Spend 10 minutes doing something just because you love it. No reason needed.
• Stand like a superhero for 30 seconds: hands on hips, chin up, feet wide. Then say: "I'm ready."
• Take a 10-minute screen-free break with something cosy: a book, a blanket, a window.
• Think of three good things from today. Tiny counts: a funny joke, a warm sock, a good biscuit. Say them or write them down.
• Tidy one small space: your bag, a drawer or your desk. Just one. Future you says thanks.
• Write "Done is better than perfect" on a scrap of paper. Stick it somewhere you'll see it tomorrow.
• Ask a grown-up about a time they failed at something and what happened next.
• Ask a grown-up to help you call or video call a grandparent or older relative. Tell them one thing about your week.
• Ask a grown-up what they were like when they were your age. Then ask one more question about it.
• Ask someone for help with something you've been stuck on. Homework, a game level, a stubborn knot.
• Ask someone to teach you something they're good at: a card trick, a word in another language, a drawing trick.
• Be someone's cheer squad: while they're trying something tricky (a game, a puzzle, a match), cheer them on till they finish.
• Catch yourself thinking "I can't do this" today. Add one word on the end: "...yet."
• Give someone a compliment that isn't about how they look. Like "You're really good at explaining stuff."
• Look in the mirror and give yourself a pep talk like a football coach at half-time: "You've got this. Let's go."
• Make up a short song about your day. Silly words are encouraged. Rhyming is optional.
• Nervous about something? Say in your head: "I can be nervous and brave at the same time." Then do the thing.
• Say three nice things about yourself that aren't about how you look. "I'm funny" counts.
• Spot a job that needs doing and do it before anyone asks. Laying the table, tidying shoes, feeding the pet.
• Teach someone younger something you're good at: a trick, a game, a skill.
• Tell a friend one thing you like about being friends with them.
• Tell a mate you're proud of them for something. "That goal was class" or "Your comic's actually really good" counts.
• Tell a teacher or coach one specific thing you liked about their lesson or session.
• Tell someone one thing you did today that you're proud of. Bragging rights: officially allowed.
• Tell someone you love that you love them. Out loud, a hug, a note: your choice.
• Thank someone properly: say what they did and why it helped. "Thanks for helping with my reading, I was really stuck."
• Think of a mistake that's still bugging you. Say in your head: "Yep, that happened. Moving on." Then shake it out of your hands.
• Try something you've never done before: write with your other hand, learn a card game, draw with your eyes shut.
• Write a short note to yourself a year from now: one thing you hope for and one thing you're proud of today.
• Write down one hard thing you've already done. Underneath write: "I've done hard things before." Read it before your next big thing.
• Write down three things you're proud of. Big or small. Keep the list somewhere safe.
• Write or draw a tiny thank-you note for someone and leave it where they'll find it. Bonus points for sneakiness.
• At break, ask someone who's on their own if they want to join in.
• If someone's idea gets talked over today, say: "Wait, what was your idea?"
• In a group task today, say your idea first. Not the loudest, just first.
• Join a game at break you'd usually just watch: football, basketball, tag. Say in your head "My game too," then walk on.
• Say hi to someone at school you don't usually talk to. Ask them one question.
• Say sorry for something you've been putting off. Short and honest is fine.
• Try something you think you'll be bad at. Being bad at it is part of the quest.

Real situations with friends and family. In the game they pick an answer and find out why it works.

• A new girl, Aisha, wears hearing aids. A couple of kids are whispering and pointing at her ears. What do you do?
• A player you don't know in real life keeps sending you game gifts. They say you're their best friend and want to chat somewhere private. What do you do?
• Amara comes in with new braids. Everyone crowds round and a couple of kids start touching them. You want a feel too. What do you do?
• An older teenager at the park gives you some sweets and says "don't tell your mum, it's our secret." What do you do?
• Arjun wears a patka, a head covering that's part of his religion. A kid says, "Why have you got a tea towel on your head?" What do you do?
• At break, Sam keeps tickling Ava. She's laughing but keeps saying "stop, STOP!" What would you say?
• At break, some of your group start giving the girls marks out of 10 for how they look. One asks you, "Who'd you give a 10?" What do you say?
• At break, you notice Theo sitting on the wall on his own again. Your mates are starting a game of tag. What do you do?
• At football club, Zara scores a brilliant goal. A dad on the sideline says, "Wow, good for a girl!" What do you do?
• Ava says to you, "Maisie's so annoying, don't you think?" Maisie is your friend too. What do you say?
• Dad gets home from work looking shattered. The table's still covered in breakfast stuff. Nobody's asked you to do anything. What do you do?
• Everyone calls Finn "Beanpole" because he's tall. He always smiles, but today you heard him tell his mum he hates it. What do you do?
• Everyone's laughing at a joke about Leo's packed lunch. Leo laughed at first, but now he's gone quiet and is putting it away. What do you do?
• In a game chat, someone posts: "FREE 10,000 GEMS!! Click here and log in!" What do you do?
• In PE, Ollie misses a catch and Harrison shouts, "You throw like a girl!" A few people laugh. What do you say?
• In the spelling test, you can see Isla's answers really clearly. You don't know how to spell "necessary". What do you do?
• Isla's in charge of your group's poster and keeping everyone on track. Kai rolls his eyes and says, "She's so bossy." What do you do?
• Jayden says, "Give me your game password and I'll level you up while you're at your nan's." He's your best mate. What do you do?
• Kai falls off the climbing frame and starts crying. A couple of boys laugh and say, "Aww, is the baby crying?" What do you do?
• Leo does ballet on Saturdays. Some kids found out and keep calling it "girly". Leo's gone really quiet. What do you do?
• Mateo moved here from Spain. Some kids keep copying the way he talks and cracking up. What do you do?
• Mateo says to Theo, "Your ears are massive, mate!" Everyone looks. Theo laughs but goes bright red. What do you do?
• Mum's card is saved on the tablet. A game offers a cool outfit for your character for £4.99. One tap and it's yours. What do you do?
• Mum's favourite mug is smashed. She thinks your little sister did it and is telling her off. It was actually you. What do you do?
• Nia gets a shiny new bike for her birthday. You've wanted one for ages. She's showing it off and you feel annoyed. What do you do?
• Playing hide and seek, your mate Jayden peeks through his fingers while counting. Now he wants you to do the same next round. What do you do?
• Priya asks to join football at break. One of the boys says, "Girls can't play football." You know she's good. What do you do?
• Ruby says her two mums are picking her up. Someone says, "Two mums? That's weird. Where's your dad?" A few kids giggle. What do you do?
• Some older kids keep grabbing Yusuf's hat and throwing it over his head. It happens most days. What do you do?
• Someone posts an embarrassing photo of a girl from your class in the group chat. Everyone's sending 😂. What do you do?
• Someone says the new girl, Zara, got kicked out of her old school. Nobody knows if it's true. Your friend wants to tell everyone. What do you do?
• Theo and Isla are good mates and always build dens together. Some kids start chanting, "Ooh, Theo loves Isla!" Theo looks embarrassed. What do you do?
• You and Kai are play-fighting on the sofa. He says "stop, I'm done" but you're winning. What do you do?
• You ask your friend if you can have a go on his controller. He says "maybe later". What does "maybe later" mean?
• You borrowed Finn's remote-control car and accidentally snapped the aerial. He hasn't noticed yet. What do you do?
• You find a £5 note on the classroom floor. Nobody saw you pick it up. What do you do?
• You lose a racing game to your cousin for the fifth time. You feel like throwing the controller. What do you do?
• You think Priya's drawing is amazing. You ask if you can show it to the whole class. She goes red and says "maybe... I dunno." What now?
• You trained loads for the sports day race and come fourth. Mateo, who won, comes over grinning. What do you do?
• You're a captain picking football teams. Harrison is always picked last and he's staring at the ground. Your mates are shouting names at you. What do you do?
• You're building with a player in an online block-building game. They type, "What school do you go to? Which town?" What do you do?
• You're one jump from the end of a level when Dad says, "Screen time's up." What do you do?
• You've just beaten your little sister at a board game for the third time. She looks like she might cry. What do you do?
• Your felt tips have run out. Ruby's are right there on her desk and she's gone to the toilet. What do you do?
• Your friends dare you to climb the tall fence at the back of the field. "Don't be a chicken!" they shout. What do you do?
• Your friends start a group chat to plan a park meet-up. Someone types, "Don't add Zara, she's annoying." Zara's your friend too. What do you do?
• Your mate Finn keeps pulling Maisie's ponytail in the lunch queue. She's told him to stop twice. He laughs, "I'm only messing." What do you do?
• Your mate Jayden gets kicked hard in the shin at football. His eyes are watering. Someone shouts, "Man up, get on with it!" What do you do?

Surprising facts, checked against reputable sources.

• A palindrome reads the same forwards and backwards. Which of these is one?
• Axolotls can regrow which of these?
• How many legs does an adult insect have?
• How many rings are on the Olympic flag?
• Which bird can fly backwards?
• "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog." What's special about this sentence?
• Bats are blind. True or myth?
• Goldfish can only remember things for 3 seconds. True or myth?
• How does a honeybee tell the others where to find flowers?
• How many bones are in a grown-up's skeleton?
• How many hearts does an octopus have?
• How many players from each team are on a netball court at once?
• In tennis, what does a score of "love" mean?
• Ostriches bury their heads in the sand when they're scared. True or myth?
• Roughly how long is a marathon?
• Roughly how much of your life will you spend asleep?
• The platypus is a mammal, but it does something most mammals don't. What?
• The word "dinosaur" comes from Greek. What does it mean?
• What does a camel keep in its hump?
• What is a group of flamingos called?
• What makes bread dough rise?
• Where is the smallest bone in your body?
• Which letter turns up most often in English writing?
• Why can't you tickle yourself?
• Why do sea otters sometimes hold paws while they sleep?
• Why does chopping an onion make your eyes water?
• Why does popcorn pop?
• Butterflies can taste with which part of their body?
• Dolphins have to come up for air. So how do they sleep?
• Fireflies aren't really flies. What are they?
• Hiccups happen when which muscle suddenly twitches?
• How many brains does a starfish have?
• Plant scientists have strict rules about what counts as a berry. Which of these is a real berry?
• Snails have teeth. Roughly how many?
• What colour is a polar bear's skin under its fur?
• What do scientists call fossilised dinosaur poo?
• What is "petrichor"?
• Which animal has fingerprints so like ours they could fool a detective?
• Which animals alive today are actually dinosaurs?
• Which animals can eat the hottest chillies without feeling the burn?
• Who has more bones in their neck: you or a giraffe?
• Who has more bones: a newborn baby or a grown-up?
• Why does a golf ball have little dents all over it?
• Woodlice are more closely related to which of these animals?
• Your most vivid dreams happen in REM sleep. What does REM stand for?
• The word "shampoo" comes from Hindi. What did the original word mean?
• Who lived closer in time to T. rex: Stegosaurus or you?

Logic, number and word puzzles.

• A spider has 8 legs. How many legs do 6 spiders have altogether?
• In a code, A = 1, B = 2, C = 3 and so on. What word is 3 - 1 - 20?
• Put one letter in front of "ear" to make an animal.
• What comes next? 3, 7, 11, 15, ...
• What comes next? 50, 45, 40, 35, ...
• What has hands but can't clap?
• What has keys but can't open locks?
• I have a neck but no head, and I wear a cap. What am I?
• It's 10:50. Isla's bus comes in 25 minutes. What time does the bus come?
• Maisie has 6 packs of stickers with 5 in each pack. She gives 7 stickers to her brother. How many does she have left?
• Ollie reads 9 pages of his book every night. How many pages does he read in a week?
• Priya has 12 grapes. She eats a quarter of them. How many grapes are left?
• Swap round the letters of EARTH to make something inside your chest that beats.
• The minute hand points at 6. The hour hand is halfway between 4 and 5. What time is it?
• What comes next? 2, 4, 8, 16, …
• What comes next? A, C, E, G, ...
• Which is the odd one out: 12, 18, 25?
• Which is the odd one out: sparrow, robin, bat?
• Yusuf saves 50p every week. How many weeks will it take him to save £4?
• A film starts at 3:45 pm and lasts 1 hour 30 minutes. What time does it finish?
• An animal is hiding across the words in this sentence: "Grandad cooks in a pan daily." Which animal is it?
• Ava, Finn and Aisha came 1st, 2nd and 3rd in a race. Finn wasn't last. Aisha beat Finn. Who came 3rd?
• Cupcakes cost 45p each at the school bake sale. How much do 3 cupcakes cost?
• Finn has 18 football stickers. A third of them are shiny. How many are NOT shiny?
• How many months of the year have at least 28 days?
• In a secret code, each letter is swapped for the next letter in the alphabet. CAT becomes DBU. What does IBU mean?
• Kai has £2. He buys a comic for 85p and a lolly for 60p. How much change does he get?
• Ruby's mum has three children. Two of them are called April and May. What is the third child called?
• The school hall has 7 rows of 8 chairs. 4 chairs are broken. How many chairs can people sit on?
• Which weighs more: a kilo of feathers or a kilo of bricks?
• Which word can go in front of "ball", "print" and "step" to make three new words?
• You have 3 stacks of 4 blocks. You take 2 blocks off one stack. How many blocks are left?
• Zara, Leo and Amara each have a different pet: a cat, a dog or a rabbit. Zara's pet doesn't bark. Leo's pet has long floppy ears and hops. Who has the dog?
• A farmer has 17 sheep. All but 9 run away. How many are left?
• Amara shares 24 sweets equally between herself and her 3 cousins. How many sweets does each person get?
• I think of a number. I double it, then add 3. I get 19. What was my number?
• If A = 1, B = 2, C = 3 and so on, what do the letters of DOG add up to?
• If today is Wednesday, what day will it be in 10 days?
• Kai, Zara and Leo each brought a different fruit: an apple, a banana and an orange. Kai's fruit isn't yellow. Zara's fruit has the same name as its colour. Who brought the banana?
• Using normal UK coins, what is the smallest number of coins that makes exactly 38p?
• What comes next? 1, 4, 9, 16, ...
• You're running a race and you overtake the person in 2nd place. What place are you in now?
• Zara is 4 years older than her brother Kai. In 3 years' time, how many years older than Kai will Zara be?
• A field has only hens and cows. There are 5 animals and 14 legs. How many cows are there?
• Five posts stand in a straight line, each 2 metres from the next. How far is it from the first post to the last?
• Four friends each high-five every other friend exactly once. How many high fives happen?
• How many times does the minute hand go all the way round the clock in one whole day?
• What comes next? 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, ...
• What's the missing number? 3, 6, 12, 24, __, 96
• Your drawer has red socks and blue socks all mixed up. In the dark, how many socks must you grab to be sure of a matching pair?

Self-care, kindness and mantras: small things to do today.

• Ask someone at home about their day and actually listen. Then ask a second question.
• Before something tricky today, say this in your head three times: "I can do hard things."
• Box breathing: breathe in for 4, hold for 4, out for 4, hold for 4. Do four boxes.
• Build something out of whatever's around: blocks, cardboard, pegs, boxes. A tower, a car, a castle, anything.
• Check with a grown-up, then go outside and find one cool thing: a weird leaf, a snail, a cloud shaped like something.
• Draw your favourite place in the whole world. It doesn't have to be good. It just has to be yours.
• Give out three high fives today. Family, friends, a teacher, or the dog's paw all count.
• Let someone go first today: in the queue, on the swing, picking the film.
• Lie down and do absolutely nothing for two whole minutes. Just breathe and look at the ceiling or the clouds.
• Make someone laugh: tell a joke, pull a silly face, or do your best impression of a chicken.
• Next time something goes wrong, say in your head: "Respawn." Then have another go, like coming back in a game.
• Ninja noticing: find 5 things you can see, 4 you can hear and 3 you can touch.
• Pick one thing you're glad you have: your bed, your pens, your football. Tell it thanks. Yes, out loud.
• Put on one song you love and dance for the whole thing. Any moves allowed. Bad moves especially.
• Slow stretch: reach right up to the ceiling, then flop down and dangle like a floppy rag doll. Do it three times.
• Spend 10 minutes doing something just because you love it. No reason needed.
• Stand like a superhero for 30 seconds: hands on hips, chin up, feet wide. Then say: "I'm ready."
• Take a 10-minute screen-free break with something cosy: a book, a blanket, a window.
• Think of three good things from today. Tiny counts: a funny joke, a warm sock, a good biscuit. Say them or write them down.
• Tidy one small space: your bag, a drawer or your desk. Just one. Future you says thanks.
• Turn off notifications for one app for the rest of the day.
• Write "Done is better than perfect" on a scrap of paper. Stick it somewhere you'll see it tomorrow.
• Write inside your planner or notebook: "I don't have to prove myself to anyone." Read it when you need it.
• Ask a grown-up about a time they failed at something and what happened next.
• Ask a grown-up to help you call or video call a grandparent or older relative. Tell them one thing about your week.
• Ask a grown-up what they were like when they were your age. Then ask one more question about it.
• Ask a parent or carer how they're actually doing. Then listen properly.
• Ask someone for help with something you've been stuck on. Homework, a game level, a stubborn knot.
• Ask someone to teach you something they're good at: a card trick, a word in another language, a drawing trick.
• Be someone's cheer squad: while they're trying something tricky (a game, a puzzle, a match), cheer them on till they finish.
• Brain too busy? Write down everything that's on your mind, fold the paper up and put it away.
• Catch yourself thinking "I can't do this" today. Add one word on the end: "...yet."
• Give someone a compliment that isn't about how they look. Like "You're really good at explaining stuff."
• Look in the mirror and give yourself a pep talk like a football coach at half-time: "You've got this. Let's go."
• Make up a short song about your day. Silly words are encouraged. Rhyming is optional.
• Mute or unfollow one account that makes you feel rubbish about yourself. No announcement needed.
• Nervous about something? Say in your head: "I can be nervous and brave at the same time." Then do the thing.
• Post something kind in a group chat: back someone up or say well done to someone.
• Put your phone in another room for 30 minutes. See what your brain does with the space.
• Say three nice things about yourself that aren't about how you look. "I'm funny" counts.
• Send a kind message to a mate or cousin who's been quiet lately: "Haven't heard from you, you ok?"
• Spot a job that needs doing and do it before anyone asks. Laying the table, tidying shoes, feeding the pet.
• Teach someone younger something you're good at: a trick, a game, a skill.
• Tell a friend one thing you like about being friends with them.
• Tell a mate you're proud of them for something. "That goal was class" or "Your comic's actually really good" counts.
• Tell a teacher or coach one specific thing you liked about their lesson or session.
• Tell someone one thing you did today that you're proud of. Bragging rights: officially allowed.
• Tell someone you love that you love them. Out loud, a hug, a note: your choice.
• Thank someone properly: say what they did and why it helped. "Thanks for helping with my reading, I was really stuck."
• Think of a mistake that's still bugging you. Say in your head: "Yep, that happened. Moving on." Then shake it out of your hands.
• Try something you've never done before: write with your other hand, learn a card game, draw with your eyes shut.
• Walking in somewhere new? Say in your head: "Not everyone has to like me. My people will." Then walk in.
• When you're done watching or scrolling, close the app yourself before anyone tells you. Say in your head: "I'm allowed to say no. Even to my phone."
• Write a short note to yourself a year from now: one thing you hope for and one thing you're proud of today.
• Write down one hard thing you've already done. Underneath write: "I've done hard things before." Read it before your next big thing.
• Write down three things you're proud of. Big or small. Keep the list somewhere safe.
• Write or draw a tiny thank-you note for someone and leave it where they'll find it. Bonus points for sneakiness.
• Ask a teacher or grown-up how to join a club or activity you've been curious about.
• At break, ask someone who's on their own if they want to join in.
• Compliment someone's work or idea in front of other people.
• If someone's idea gets talked over today, say: "Wait, what was your idea?"
• In a group task today, say your idea first. Not the loudest, just first.
• Join a game at break you'd usually just watch: football, basketball, tag. Say in your head "My game too," then walk on.
• Next time you don't know something, in class or with mates, just say "No idea, actually." No bluffing, no nodding along.
• Say hi to someone at school you don't usually talk to. Ask them one question.
• Say no to something you don't want to do, kindly and clearly. "Nah, I'm alright, thanks."
• Say sorry for something you've been putting off. Short and honest is fine.
• Tell a mate or a grown-up you trust about something you've been worried about.
• Try something you think you'll be bad at. Being bad at it is part of the quest.

Real situations with friends and family. In the game they pick an answer and find out why it works.

• A creator on a video app says "real men don't cry, don't talk about feelings, just get on with it". Loads of people in your year are quoting it. What do you think?
• A message is flying round every chat: "School's shut Monday because of a gas leak, it's official, send to 10 people!" No link, no letter. What do you do?
• A message pops up in a game: "Free legendary skins! Click this link and log in to claim before midnight!" Your mate says it worked for his cousin. What do you do?
• A player you've gamed with for months says they live near you and asks what school you go to. They say you should meet up at the shops. What do you do?
• After school, some older kids are vaping at the bus stop. One holds it out to you: "Go on, it's only fruity, don't be a baby." What do you do?
• Amara is leading your group project and keeping everyone on track. Someone says, "She's so bossy." Others nod. What do you do?
• Arlo's joined the dance club. Some people in your form are calling him names and asking if he's "a girl now". What do you do?
• At break, Sam keeps tickling Ava. She's laughing but keeps saying "stop, STOP!" What would you say?
• At the corner shop, your mates dare you to nick a chocolate bar. "It's 50p, they won't care." What do you do?
• Ava says to you, "Maisie's so annoying, don't you think?" Maisie is your friend too. What do you say?
• Dev says "just copy mine, change a few words" the night before your history homework is due. You haven't started. What do you do?
• Everyone calls Finn "Beanpole" because he's tall. He always smiles, but today you heard him tell his mum he hates it. What do you do?
• Everyone's laughing at a joke about Leo's packed lunch. Leo laughed at first, but now he's gone quiet and is putting it away. What do you do?
• Ewan has just moved from Glasgow. Every time he answers a question, people copy his accent and laugh. He's started to stop answering. What do you do?
• Harrison is singing to himself in the corridor, thinking nobody's around. Your friend gets her phone out to film it for the chat. What do you do?
• In a game chat, someone posts: "FREE 10,000 GEMS!! Click here and log in!" What do you do?
• In a game server, a player keeps asking a girl for her Snapchat. She's said no twice. He keeps going.
• In PE, Ollie misses a catch and Harrison shouts, "You throw like a girl!" A few people laugh. What do you say?
• In science, a group keeps calling Ella "Wolfie" because of the hair on her arms. She's pulled her sleeves down. They call it banter. What do you do?
• In the changing room after PE, a couple of people start making jokes about what girls are "good for". Everyone's laughing. What do you do?
• It's 1am. The group chat's still buzzing. You're tired, but you don't want to miss anything. What do you do?
• It's Ramadan and Aisha is fasting. At lunch, a couple of people keep waving crisps in her face going "go on, just one". She's smiling but looks fed up. What do you do?
• Jayden says, "Give me your game password and I'll level you up while you're at your nan's." He's your best mate. What do you do?
• Jess asked you to the cinema. You said no thanks. Now her mates keep messaging you, "just give her a chance". What do you do?
• Kai falls off the climbing frame and starts crying. A couple of boys laugh and say, "Aww, is the baby crying?" What do you do?
• Leo has a stammer. In English he's reading out loud, and someone behind you is quietly copying him to make their mates laugh. What do you do?
• Lily messaged you privately about liking someone. Your mate Theo sees it over your shoulder and says "screenshot it to me, it's hilarious". What do you do?
• Mateo says to Theo, "Your ears are massive, mate!" Everyone looks. Theo laughs but goes bright red. What do you do?
• Maya wants to join the lunchtime football game. A lad says, "Girls can't play, she'll slow us down." You're in the game. What do you do?
• Nia sent a voice note to the class chat and her voice cracked. Now it's 40 messages of crying-laughing emojis and people copying it. What do you do?
• Ollie lives with his nan. Someone at football says "where's your mum then?" and everyone goes quiet. Ollie looks at the floor. What do you do?
• On non-uniform day, a lad keeps commenting on Ruby's outfit, saying it's "too tight" and getting his mates to laugh. She's gone red. What do you do?
• Someone posts a "joke" in the class chat about Jayden's skin colour. A few people react with laughing faces. Jayden hasn't replied. What do you do?
• Someone posts an embarrassing photo of a girl from your class in the group chat. Everyone's sending 😂. What do you do?
• Someone says the new girl, Zara, got kicked out of her old school. Nobody knows if it's true. Your friend wants to tell everyone. What do you do?
• Someone you met on a game server is really nice. They give you tips and gifts. Now they're asking for a photo of you and saying "don't tell your parents about our chats". What do you do?
• Someone's edited a picture of Theo so his head is on a baby's body. It's going round every chat and it's spreading fast. What do you do?
• The group chat starts rating girls in your year out of 10. Your mates are waiting for your list. What do you do?
• There's a rumour that Zara messaged Jayden saying she fancies him, and he showed everyone. Nobody's seen the message. People keep asking you if it's true. What do you say?
• There's a supply teacher in French. A group keeps calling out, pretending not to hear her and mimicking her accent. Some people are filming. What do you do?
• You ask your friend if you can have a go on his controller. He says "maybe later". What does "maybe later" mean?
• You borrowed Mateo's headphones and sat on them. They've snapped. He hasn't noticed yet. What do you do?
• You get a message: "Your account will be deleted in 24 hours. Verify now by sending your password and the code we text you." What do you do?
• You get added to a new group chat called "no Ruby zone". It's people from your class moaning about Ruby and posting her photos with mean captions. What do you do?
• You started Year 7 with your best mate. Now she's in a new group, and they're making plans in a chat you're not in. What do you do?
• You took a funny photo of your mates at the park. One of them, Maisie, says she doesn't like how she looks. You think it's a great pic. What do you do?
• You're in a game lobby. A girl speaks on voice and someone instantly says "go make me a sandwich" and starts calling her trash. What do you do?
• You've got £15 birthday money. There's a new loot box in your game, and everyone's opening them. You could get something rare. What do you do?
• Your best mate Amara got picked for the school play lead. You auditioned too and didn't get anything. Everyone's congratulating her. How do you feel and what do you do?
• Your best mate keeps taking a Year 7's hat on the bus and throwing it around. The kid looks close to tears. Your mate looks at you to join in. What do you do?
• Your friend Kai has gone really quiet. He's stopped gaming, leaves messages on read, and said "what's the point" at lunch. What do you do?
• Your mate Finn keeps messaging Isla. She stopped replying three days ago. He asks you to help write something "that'll make her answer". What do you say?
• Your mate keeps sending you clips of a guy on a video app saying women are worth less than men and should "know their place". He says "he's not wrong though". What do you think?
• Your mate says "let's use my mum's saved card to buy skins, she won't notice." What do you do?
• Your mate's cousin always hugs you when you meet. You don't want to, but everyone says "don't be rude". What do you do?
• Your mates dare you to pull Yusuf's chair away just as he sits down in maths. "It'll be hilarious." What do you do?
• Your team lost the final. Rhys cried in the changing room. Now someone's calling him a baby. What do you do?
• Zara's answering loads in class. Someone mutters, "Why is she so loud? Girls shouldn't be that loud." A few people giggle. What do you do?

Surprising facts, checked against reputable sources.

• Axolotls can regrow which of these?
• How many hearts does an octopus have?
• What is a group of flamingos called?
• Which letter turns up most often in English writing?
• An alien spaceship explodes in space while you watch from your own ship. What would you hear?
• Deep in the ocean, below about 1,000 metres, how much sunlight is there?
• Dolphins have to come up for air. So how do they sleep?
• How many brains does a starfish have?
• Jupiter's Great Red Spot is actually what?
• Light is the fastest thing there is. Roughly how long does sunlight take to reach Earth?
• Lightning never strikes the same place twice: true or myth?
• Plant scientists have strict rules about what counts as a berry. Which of these is a real berry?
• Velcro was invented after a man noticed what stuck to his dog's fur?
• Vikings wore helmets with horns on: true or myth?
• What colour is a polar bear's skin under its fur?
• What did the ancient Romans use to help clean clothes?
• What happens to astronauts' height after a few months in space?
• What is "petrichor"?
• What is the smallest country in the world?
• What makes a black hole "black"?
• Which animals alive today are actually dinosaurs?
• Which animals can eat the hottest chillies without feeling the burn?
• Which day of the week is named after Thor, the Viking god of thunder?
• Which planet has a day longer than its year?
• Who has more bones in their neck: you or a giraffe?
• Who has more bones: a newborn baby or a grown-up?
• Why can people float easily in the Dead Sea?
• Why do we always see the same side of the Moon?
• Why do you see lightning before you hear the thunder?
• Why does a golf ball have little dents all over it?
• Why does ice float on water?
• Why does Mars look red?
• Woodlice are more closely related to which of these animals?
• You can see the Great Wall of China from the Moon: true or myth?
• You only use 10% of your brain: true or myth?
• Your most vivid dreams happen in REM sleep. What does REM stand for?
• "A light-year" measures what?
• Diamonds and the graphite in pencil "lead" are made of the same thing. What is it?
• Each of your eyes has a blind spot where it can't see anything. Why don't you notice a hole in your vision?
• How much of all the stuff in our solar system is in the Sun?
• If you dropped Mount Everest into the deepest part of the ocean, the Mariana Trench, what would happen?
• If you had a bath big enough, which planet would float in it?
• In 1947, engineers found something stuck inside a computer and taped it in their logbook as the "first actual case of bug being found". What was it?
• Just how big is the Pacific Ocean?
• Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun. Which planet is the hottest?
• The famous antibiotic penicillin was discovered by accident in 1928. What did it come from?
• The International Space Station zooms round Earth about every 90 minutes. Roughly how many sunrises do astronauts see each day?
• The Moon is slowly doing what?
• The word "shampoo" comes from Hindi. What did the original word mean?
• What helped experts finally read Egyptian hieroglyphs?
• What is the largest desert in the world?
• What's weird about the way Uranus spins?
• When ancient Egyptians made a mummy, which organ did they usually leave inside the body?
• Where is the tallest volcano in the whole solar system?
• Which country has the longest coastline in the world?
• Which Europeans reached North America around 500 years before Columbus?
• Which is hotter?
• Which metal is a liquid at room temperature?
• Which months are named after Roman rulers?
• Who lived closer in time to T. rex: Stegosaurus or you?
• Why is the sky blue?
• Cleopatra lived closer in time to which of these?
• Everest is the highest mountain above sea level. But measured from its base on the seabed, which mountain is taller?
• The word RED is printed in blue ink. Is it quicker to read the word or to say the ink colour?

Logic, number and word puzzles.

• What has keys but can't open locks?
• Rearrange the letters of LISTEN to make a word that means making no noise.
• Trainers cost £60. The shop has 25% off. How much do you pay?
• What comes next? 2, 4, 8, 16, …
• Which word can go after BIRTH, HOLI and WEEK?
• Which word can go after FOOT, BASKET and HAND?
• A fair coin has landed heads five times in a row. What's the chance the next flip is heads?
• A school coach leaves at 9:15 and drives 150 km at an average of 60 km/h. What time does it arrive?
• Aisha finished ahead of Jayden. Harrison finished behind Maisie. Jayden finished ahead of Maisie. Who came last?
• How many months of the year have at least 28 days?
• Isla wants a £35 game. She's already got £10 and saves £2.50 a week. How many weeks until she can buy it?
• It takes 3 minutes to make one cut through a log. How long does it take to cut a log into 5 pieces?
• Kai and Ruby live 30 km apart. They set off at the same time and cycle towards each other, Kai at 8 km/h and Ruby at 7 km/h. How long until they meet?
• Leo cycles 12 km in 40 minutes at a steady speed. What's his speed in km per hour?
• Ruby's mum has three children. Two of them are called April and May. What is the third child called?
• There are 30 people in a class. 40% are going on the trip. How many are NOT going?
• What comes next? 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, ...
• What comes next? 1, 3, 6, 10, 15, ...
• What comes next? 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, ...
• When Kai was 6, his little brother was half his age. Kai is now 14. How old is his brother?
• Which weighs more: a kilo of feathers or a kilo of bricks?
• Which word can go in front of "ball", "print" and "step" to make three new words?
• You roll two normal dice and add them up. Which total is most likely?
• A £80 hoodie is half price. At the till you get an extra 10% off the sale price. What do you pay?
• A farmer has 17 sheep. All but 9 run away. How many are left?
• A football league has 5 teams. Each team plays every other team twice, once at home and once away. How many matches are there?
• A noughts and crosses grid is 3 squares by 3 squares. How many squares can you find in it altogether, counting the bigger ones?
• Four friends' pizza bill comes to £46. Zara also had a £6 milkshake nobody else had. The rest is split equally. How much does Zara pay?
• In a secret code, each letter moves 3 places along the alphabet (A becomes D, Z wraps round to C). What does DPDCLQJ mean?
• Ruby is 12 and her mum is 36. In how many years will her mum be exactly twice Ruby's age?
• Six friends meet up and everyone shakes hands with everyone else once. How many handshakes is that?
• Theo is three times as old as his sister. In 4 years, their ages will add up to 28. How old is Theo now?
• Using normal UK coins, what is the smallest number of coins that makes exactly 38p?
• What comes next? 1, 4, 9, 16, ...
• What comes next? 2, 6, 12, 20, 30, ...
• What comes next? 3, 10, 6, 13, 9, 16, ...
• What letter comes next? A, C, F, J, O, ...
• Which of these is NOT a prime number?
• You pick one card from a normal 52-card pack. What's the chance it's a red ace?
• You roll two dice. What's the chance both land on six?
• You're running a race and you overtake the person in 2nd place. What place are you in now?
• Yusuf, Isla, Mateo and Nia sit in a row of 4 cinema seats. Isla is in seat 1. Mateo sits next to Isla. Nia doesn't sit next to Mateo. Who's in seat 3?
• 3 hens lay 3 eggs in 3 days. At that rate, how many eggs do 6 hens lay in 6 days?
• A bat and a ball cost £1.10 together. The bat costs £1 more than the ball. How much is the ball?
• A field has only hens and cows. There are 5 animals and 14 legs. How many cows are there?
• A game costs £50. The price goes up 10%, then a month later it drops 10%. What does it cost now?
• A knockout tennis tournament has 32 players. Lose once and you're out. How many matches until there's a winner?
• Amara walks 3 km to the park at 4 km/h, then jogs the same 3 km home at 12 km/h. What's her average speed for the whole trip?
• Five posts stand in a straight line, each 2 metres from the next. How far is it from the first post to the last?
• In one whole day (24 hours), how many times do the hour hand and minute hand of a clock point exactly the same way?
• One of three boxes has a prize. Box A says: "The prize is in here." Box B says: "The prize is not in here." Box C says: "The prize is in box A." Only one label is true. Where's the prize?
• Someone ate the last biscuit. Ava says: "Finn did it." Finn says: "It wasn't me." Priya says: "It wasn't me." Only one of them is telling the truth. Who ate it?
• What's the missing number? 3, 6, 12, 24, __, 96
• You flip two coins. What's the chance you get exactly one head?
• Your drawer has red socks and blue socks all mixed up. In the dark, how many socks must you grab to be sure of a matching pair?